Plate fastener



Patented Mar. ll), 1931 WILLIAM. LA I-IODNY, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR. TO STANDARDIMIRROR COMPANY, INC., 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PLATE rnsrnnn n Application filed-July 1, 1929. Serial No. 375,308.

This invention relates to a fastening whereby a plate is adapted to be attached to a support and more particularly a glass plate which is attached to a double swinging door so as to prevent finger marks from being left upon the door when opening and closing the same, such plates being usually known in the trade as push plates.

Heretoforeit has been customary to perforate these plates near the edge and fasten the same to a support by means of a screw passing through the perforations, but this is objectionable on account of the expense of thus perforating the plates and also the liability of cracking or breaking the glass while performing this perforating operation and also the liability of leaving small cracks in the glass during such perforating operation which are not discernible at the time that the work is done but which gradually develop as the push plate is put into use.

It has also been proposed to notch the edges of the glass and engage such notches by means of clips whichwere secured to a support and not only engaged these notches but also overhung the edge portion of the glass plates in order to obtain a firm hold thereon. This construction is also objectionable because the notches were usually very smalland the brackets were closely fitted into the same so as to have close contact therebetween and insure holding the glass plate in position, which fastening is liable to crack the glass plate.

It is the object of this invention to provide a glass plate fasten-er which is of simple construction, which will permit of fastening plates without boring holes in the same or producing small notches and which permits of fastening the plate to a support without producing any strain thereon which would be apt to fracture the glass while in use.

,Moreover, this fastener is Very inconspicuous so as not to detract from the beauty of the push plate and it can also be manufactured at a very low cost and installed without any difliculty.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a glass plate mounted on a support by means of the fastening device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the same taken on line 33, Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line H,

F 1g. 2. a

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sections showing-glass plates secured to supports by fasteners constructed in accordance with the modified forms of my improvement.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawmgs.

The numeral 10 represents a support of any of the door and the same is preferably longer vertically and attached at its upper and short sides to the door. a

In, the preferred construction shown in Figs. 1-4 this glass plate is provided at its upper and lower edges by means of notches, each of which preferably has a semi-cylindrical orcurved inner end 13 and two parallel sides 14 leading from opposite ends of the curved part 13 of this notch outwardly to the adjacent edge of the glass.

The numerall5 represents the shank or body of a screw which is arranged within each of the notches of the glass plate and engagesits inner threaded end with the door 10 while the head 16 at its outer end is brought to bear against the front surface of the glass plate immediately surrounding the respective notch therein. Instead, however, of engaging the head of this fastening screw directly with the glass plate a washer 17 is interposed between the under side-of the screw head and the front side of the glass plate, for which purpose the washer is made sufiiciently large in diameter so as to over-.

hang that portion of the glass plate immediately around the notch therein. This washer is preferably of soft metal such as copper, so that when the pressure of the screw is applied to the same this washer can yield to some extent and adapt itself to the conformation of the notch in the glass plate and also to be dished slightly inwardly under such pressure, as shown in Fig. 3, and thereby prevent the glass plate from being broken or cracked under such pressure.

For the purpose of producing a comparatively tight fit between the body or shank of each screw and the walls of the respective notch in the glass plate so that the latter will be held reliably in its proper position without liability of becoming displaced, an elastic bushing 18 of rubber or the like is mounted on each fastening screw so that it bears with its periphery against the adjacent inner part of the respective notch in the glass plate while its rear end bears against the front of the door and its front end bears against the under side of the washer 17 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and l. This tight fit of the bushing around the fastening screw and the inner surface of the adjacent notch is effected by making the bushing originally somewhat longer than the thickness of the glass so that upon tightening the respective fastening screw until the companion washer bears against the front side of the glass plate, this bushing will be compressed and thereby expanded to such an extent that a tight fit is produced between the several parts and displacement is positively avoided under all circumstances.

lhis form of fastener permits of securing the glass plate in place with a minimum liability of injuring or fracturing the glass. It also permits of making the notchin the glass comparatively large so that the inner surface of the notch can be smoothed without leaving small fissures which otherwise might develop into cracks in the glass, and it is possible by the use of this fastening to secure the same in place without exercising extraordinary care and still avoid the liability of fracturing the same.

If desired, the elastic or rubber bushing may be omitted, as shown in Fig. 6 but this is not as satisfactory as the construction shown in Figs. 1-4 inasmuch as the holding of the glass plate in its proper position is dependent entirely upon the pressure of the washer 17 against the glass plate around the notch 13 therein.

In the further modified form of this invention, shown in Fig. 5 both the elastic bushing and the washer are omitted in which case the head 16 of the screw i5 bears directly against the front side of the glass plate but care must be exercised not to exert an excess pressure otherwise the glass is liable to be broken.

The several constructions, however. avoid the use of a minute notch in the edge of the glass which of itself is objectionable on account of the tendency for a crack to start from the inner end of such notch when fas tening the plate to a support.

The form of the notches may be varied and may be either curved at its inner end, as shown in Fig. 4, or the same may be square, oblong or angular at its inner end. These notches may also be formed by casting the same in the plate or by grinding-them with a suitable. abrasive disk.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A glass plate adapted to be fastened to a support and provided in its edge with a notch extending from side to side of the plate, and a fastening screw adapted to enter sa d support and having a body engaging said notch and a head overhanging the front side of said plate.

2. A glass plate adapted to be fastened to a support and provided in its edge with a. notch extending from side to side of the plate, and a fastening screw adapted to. enter said support and having a body engaging said notch and a head overhanging the front side of said plate, and a washer. interposed between the front side of said plate and the underside of said head.

3. A glass plate adapted to be fastened to a support and provided in its edge with a notch extending from side'to side of the plate, and a fastening screw adapted to enter said support and having a body engaging said notch and a head overhanging'the front side of said plate, and an elastic bushing surrounding said body and arranged within said notch.

t. A glass plate adapted to be fastened to a support and provided in its edge with a notch extending from side to side of the plate, and a fastening screw adapted to enter said support and having a body engaging said notch and a head overhanging the front side of said plate, an elastic bushing surrounding said body and arranged within said notch, and a washer interposed between the front side of said plate and the underside of said head.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

WILLIAM LA HODNY. 

